Campbell City (part 8 of 13)

The difficulties will be dealt with as they occur. But it may be remarked at the outset that the divergences from an antistrophic structure which have been noticed above cannot justify what is in itself unmetrical. At the same time the variation between WV V4 --

BGUn-UUtAUYU - (182-197), the shortening of the diphthong in (cp. or admission of an irrational thesis (117), and the resolution of the long syllable of an anapaest or dactyl as in 220, although they may be rejected on special grounds in particular places, are not to be absolutely condemned. Lastly, in dealing with metrical irregularities in the lyrical part of plays which like the O. C. and Phil. belong to the latest period of Greek tragedy, we are haunted by the doubt whether the changes in music*which began about this time were not already accompanied with metrical innovations. In the presence of manifest corruptions, like that in 1. 152, we cannot firmly maintain that it was so; yet the fact remains that the metrical anomalies in the text of these two plays greatly exceed the average of corruptions in Sophocles.

? 6 125 » 2.2 + 3 dv ~ 2 ~ ~ TaVO , » Tas

'Look out ! Who was it then? Where is he? Whither is he sped away, the most reckless of men? Inquire for him; keenly look; look for him in every direction. The old man is some wanderer, and a stranger to the place: else never had he gone within the pathless grove of these invincible maidens, whom we tremble to name, and pass with downcast eyes, with voices hushed, without words, breathing the language of pious thought. But now we hear that one is come, having no reverence, of whom I, looking over all the grove, cannot yet tell where he is to be found.'

121-32. Hermann's conjectures are adopted to secure the correspondence of these lines with infr. 153-5, ll. 4-6 of the antistrophe: | |

127. Schol. The former seems to be the true Homeric meaning, which however is modified in the Sophoclean use by an association from Cp. Pind. Pyth. 3. 33, |

134. Glovra] The unusual active voice strengthens the expression. Cp. E. on L. pp. 51, 98. Odcdipus alone of mortals has no fear of the Erinyes.

Blaydes conj. ove retaining in], 166. And the synaphea is certainly more regular if the anapaests have already begun.

Cp. Ant. 829, paris Oedipus and Antigone re-enter from behind, and after several movements, with irregular anapaestic accompaniment, he is again seated in the middle of the proscenium, on a raised platform. The absence of the conventional palace-front enables Oedipus to be seen when at the back of the stage.

140, 1. The chorus are at first too horror-stricken at the very sight of the offender, either to discern his blindness, or to gather the meaning of his words. This appears from their language in terpreted as an exclamation on first discovering that he is blind. The present words, as Oedipus perceives, simply express horror at seeing and hearing the impious one In 1. 143 they pass from horror to curiosity. Only when he directly calls their attention to it, do they realize the fact that he is without sight. Schol.

144. 'Not altogether one of highest fortune, that ye should congratulate him thereon.' The genitive is in the first instance attributive, 'One of high fortune, but is to be resumed with edéda:- which governs the genitive, as in Plat. Crit. 43 B, evdSaipovicar is

Another interpretation deserves notice. 'Not one to congratulate (=otor on his first destiny ;' i.e. The destiny which has been his from birth: of But to this may be objected, (1) that the infinitive can hardly stand except as epexegetic ; (2) the emphatic position of apeTns; (3) the gentle irony of the former meaning, which is better adapted to the situation. The same objections apply to the conjecture 1. 4. (Vauvillers, Schndw., Nauck.), which is a word only found in grammarians, and gives a poor sense.

145. 'Guardians of this land.' Oedipus infers their office from the words of the Bévos, 1. 78, and of his daughter, 1. 112, Cp. Aesch. Pers. 25,

148. péyas 'Nor, being a prince, as I am, should 1 have taken {up my rest here to crave a small boon.' Schol. Cp. supr. 5. It may be objected to this rendering that it is dramatically inappropriate to make Oedipus assume as manifest (67A@ 1.146) what the chorus could not know. But it may be rejoined that he is meditating on his own condition and speaking oracularly, as in supr. 45. The other interpretation (also given in the Scholia), 'or being tall, have leaned on one so slight,' is less natural, and (unless opeepas is read) attributes a doubtful use both to the dative and to the plural.

149-169. ' And wast thou then blind? O wretched life, and protracted, too, if I am not mistaken. Howbeit, if I can prevent, thou shalt not bring this curse. For, I tell thee, thou art transgressing. But oh! lest you break the sacred peace of yonder grassy dell, where the watered hollow gathers softly-flowing streams, - of this take heed. all hapless stranger; avoid, remove. The distance hinders. Dost hear, O weary wanderer? If you have any matter for conference with me, come off forbidden ground, and speak, where all may. But, till then, avaunt thee !'

149, 50. doa 'Alas, and art thou then blind!' The interrogative has the force of an exclamation. For the emphatic order of the words, see Essay on L. § 31. p. 78, is a poetical phrase (cp. 1. 139) for i.e. Cp. Aj. 1077, The past tense has a pathetic or reflective force, Essay on L. § 32. p. 55. The chorus are not enquiring the cause of Oedipus' blindness, but are expressing their horror, slightly modified by pity, at the fact, which they have just discovered.

the asyndeton, cp. 161 foll. Others read in which is prosaic, or for which Linw. ep. Ar. Pax 857, or én'

153,4. (1) 'Be thou blind or old, thou shalt not thus bring down the curse :' viz. by violating the precinct. sc. For this use of cp. O. T. 820, mw 6 The chorus, after yielding for a moment to compassion, return to their main object, the vindication of the sacred ground. Otherwise, the mood of the chorus being supposed to change from horror to pity, (2) 'Thou shalt not thus bring a curse upon thyself;' or (3) 'Thou shalt not add this curse to thy calamity.'

154. wepds| (1) 'You are transeressing.' Not (2) 'You shall come forth:' although such a use of the present for a certain future is permissible.

155. while opposing the command to the offence, also contrasts the danger of still further trespass with the trespass already committed. The construction is Epic: cp. Aj. 633, «.7T.A., ib. 375. For used in pointing to an object not close at hand, cp. El. 4, 7, 10.

depends (1) on the general precept ofavoidance (sc. which is more definitely expressed, as the sentence proceeds, in «.7.A. Or (2) an ellipse of Aéyw may be supposed.

156. The reading although conjectural, seems to be required by the metre, and and are often confused. Either compound gives a good 56 implying violence, and heedlessness.

157-60. petAt- (1) 'Where the stream of sweet waters flows together in the pure basin :' fevpart, dat. of manner. The basin is said to 'run together in a stream' by a metonymy or inversion. implies that it received no wine. Supr. 100, doivors. (2) The Scholiast understood to refer to the honey that was mingled with the libation to the Eumenides (infr. 481); ie. 'The libation of pure water mingles with the flowing hydromel.' dat. after in comp., and the bowl, as infr. 479, for the contents of the bowl. Meineke reads (3) Taking the words as in (1), the epithet may, however, contain an allusion to this sweetening of the waters, and also an association from 'to propitiate. Schol. In (1) the «parhp is the basin in which water was gathered for libations: in (2) it is the vessel from which

161. Neuter, referring to the whole of the previous description. The genitive is governed by the notion of avoidance in (= assisted by For Schndw. suggested the Homeric Kd pope.

166. tw' This reading is adopted on the ground of metre, and as suiting well with the context. 'Tf you will bring any word to be considered by us assembled' For which in the mouth of the chorus here has an ancient and formal air, cp Ant. yepovrav.. For éxes in the MS. reading, cp. Pind. OL. 8. 4.

170. 'Daughter, what is one to think?' i.e. What counsel are we to take? The optative may be defended (Essay on L. § 36. p. 62, cp. esp. Antipho, p. 112, Tis ;) but the subjunctive is better. For what follows, cp. Aesch. Suppl. sub init. xpelos Bias, fragm. vili, (in Bergk's Poetae Melici), ow al

172. ' Vielding what by the whole chorus: if anapaestic, is meet, and not waiting for compulsion.' _ they are recited by the coryphaeus. Par. B, etc. here preserve the better 178. ; Persuaded reading. Cp: Lys. Epitaph. § 14, at last to move, Oedipus takes his : El. 1463. daughter's hand, but before advancing

. : Eur. Hee. 225, Pind. asks for more assurance. The chorus Pyth. 4. 288, point to a spot where he may rest The words of Oedipus in 174, py secure. He then moves forward a few 'Let me not be roughly used' steps, and asks, 'Is that enough, or - are prompted by the fear which An- must he go further?' This line extigone here suggests, and the chorus, in ceeds by four syllables the correspondre- -assuring him, use the same expression, ing line, infr. 194. The words ro... Cp. infr.827. which Elmsley rejected, have Others suggest various modifications of more the appearance of a gloss than is a feeble repetition of eixovras, and 'Come further on.' involves too great here is to move over a cerchange. comes of the ditto- space.

175. oot peravactas| ward, maiden, for you see and under- Herm. rejected so as to obtain stand? Cp. Od. 18. 11, metrical correspondence with the par- amavtes, where is oemiac in 191. But this rests on the 'to perceive by sight.' besupposition that the anapaestic systems sides the doubtful metre. conveys too must exactly correspond, in which case much of the idea of force. four and a half lines are lost before 188. 182, 3. 'Come See note on p. 294. LI. 176, 7, 192, 3, follow, this way follow with thy darkhave been described by some edd. as _ ened steps, father, the way I am leading choriambic. Ifso, they would be sung _ thee.'

184-7. These lines are rightly given to the chorus. They correspond to 203- 6, in which the expression again occurs. 'Be not averse, unhappy one, when sojourning in a strange land, to cherish the same hatreds with the citizens and to respect their loves.' Cp. Eur. Bacch.

431-3, | | Aesch. Suppl. 202, evn Eum. 983,

186. ' Hath habitually chosen for dislike; i.e. is wont to dislike. There is a slight oxymoron in the form of expression. Schol.

189. tv' dv] The use of the optative mood with dy after a relative, following an imperative, and conveying an implied purpose, is analogous to the Epic construction of such passages as Hom. II. 8. 280: foll., TOL per' |... Theocr. 25. 61, / és pny | iva TET [LOL LEV The use of dy in such places is equivalent to the use of dy with the optative in independent clauses. The usage, however, is rare, and has not been generally retained in later Greek.

cal sense, like that noticed in 1.12. Partly 'coming where we may agers without impiety, like in 1. 178, and partly 'relying on pious action,' as in Phil. 1463, where, as here, there is a reminiscence of Epic Greek. Od. 23. 13, etc.

192, 8. . 'Stir again from this rocky platform.' For the periphrasis in cp. 113, O.T. 468, The expression 'A rock-like platform,' would suggest to those who had seen the sacred place at Colonus some peculiarity in the basement of the low seats at the entrance of the grove, or possibly means that while Oedipus remains on this narrow restingplace his foot is placed immovably on the rock. The conjecture is plausible but unnecessary. The Scholiast says, referring to the Cp. supr. 1.57, and note. like In there is a reminiscence of the Epic use of 1], 349;

195. The form is questionable in Attic, according to Thom. Mag. p. 483, and Phryn. p. 269. But the word which was afterwards in common use, may be supposed to have had a source in the earlier language. And the alternative reading 7 is less in accordance with what precedes and follows. For this question, as implied in has been already answered, and the rejoinder, y'.. is more natural, when supposed to give assent to a request to be allowed to sit. 'Shall I be seated?' 'Ves, bending low adown upon the surface of the stone.' not 'sideways,' but simply opposed to and probably connected by Sophocles with i.e. halfrecumbent, bending; cp. Eur. Med. 1168, where it is used of a person ready to fallbackwards. Aéypios conveys the general notion of a position other than upright.

196. (der. from #Adw) gives the more particular notion of bending the limbs together, as one does who is on a low seat. Cp. 1]. 13. 281, én' the coward in an ambush, who keeps shifting from one constrained position to another. The MSS. give

197. *hovxaia] If the metre is to correspond to 1. 182, we must read thus for The words are commonly taken to mean, (1) ' Adjust thy step to my quiet tread, - Leaning forward thine aged body on my loving hand.' i.e. Antigene presses her foot against her father's to steady him while he sits down, and, lest he should fall forward, supports him with her hand. But (which the Schol. interprets may be understood to mean the stone support for the foot attached to the seat, (2) 'Fit thy foot into its quiet resting-place.' Cp. in 193. has then associations from 176, 7, as well as from the general silence and peacefulness surrounding the grove. The repetition of the same word in a different sense would be less felt than if we said in English, 'Step on that step.' there is an end of this trouble about you, or (2) 'Now that there is an end of your troubles" For (1) cp. supr. For the absolute use of see Essay on L. p. 88. Cp. Eur. Ion 637, 6000 ; Ar. Av. 383, 204. like supr. 166, is a reading supplied by an early hand on the margin of L. For tis supplementary predicate, cp. O. T. 151, tis ..éBas; And for épvs= cp. O. T. 1015, ais The reading of B, etc. is against metre. The same hand gives 6 which, (1) like ris pus, is unlikely to have been invented, and is more forcible than ris ; which is read in all MSS, and acknowledged by the Scholiast, but does not correspond to 186, (2) One interpretation of the Scholiast, ; points to an ancient variation of reading, such as which Blaydes suggests. taay have crept in from below. For cp. Aesch. Prom. 611, Tis Tis dpa ; 211. 'Nor search me out, inquiring farther"? Cp. Od. 116, | 212. is extra metrum: cp. 1. 215. Elmsley conjectures cp. 1469. Herm. rod'; «.7.A. The former is the more probable of the two emendations. On in the sense of birth, see Essay on L. p. 91. 216. 1]. 11. 404, Od. ». 465. Essay on L. § 45. p. 85. 217. Batvers| ' Your foot is on the verge,' i.e. You are driven as it were to the edge of a precipice. 219. Hermann's correction of this

220. By simply rejecting iov from the Laurentian reading (.. 6. we might obtain a dactylic tetrameter, as in 224, 226, with a resolution of the 3rd arsis, for which, cp. Eur. Or. 1485, aixpas. But the regular alternation of the paroemiac with ~UU-UY - | QUE gives a more probable rhythm. And may be a gloss on If the several choreutae are supposed to speak in turn the line may have run: XO. & XO. io'. And so Herm. read in 1839. For the sense, ep. O. T. 1383, | pavévT Aaiov: where the fatal birth from Laius makes the climax of horror.

should be punished for this:' 1. 6. (TovTwY), (genitive of relation) mpo- TO sc. Cp. infr. 271, «.7.A. For the construction of cp. Ant. 1194, 5, Ti ; * For why should I soothe thee with a tale, in regard to which we shall presently be found false speakers?" See Essay on L.§9.p.13 This is better than (2) to make -- ('nemo punitur ob injuriam prius acceptam, si eam rependit,' Herm., Schol.): or (3) to make the object of 'retribution for an act, of which he has already suffered the retribution' or (4) taking the genitive as after in comp. to render, 'that he should suffer for an act previously to which he has been wronged.' The chorus feel the gravity of their position in breaking a promise made in presence of the Erinyes, but plead that it was made under a false impression. Cp. Aesch. Fr. 294, The form see v. rr., is questionable.

mpovxer: Eur. Bacch. 905, pos 'But deception, matching deception, makes return, not of good, but of evil.'

234. dhoppos The explanation of the Scholiast, dpoppos, has been commonly accepted; but the derivation from épyos gives more point, and is supported by the language of Oedipus, supr. 148. (1) 'Leaving my land;' (2) 'Driven from the harbour of my land.'

235. 'Lest you bring some further burden on my state.' lit. 'debt,' ' obligation, here, by a litotes, the obligation of removing pollution,

237-53. 'O religious-minded strangers, yet, seeing ye could not bear with this my aged sire, because the sound of deeds which he did unwittingly was in your ears, yet, sirs, have pity, we entreat you, on me, the hapless one, who pray you for my own father, pray, looking in thine eyes with no blank gaze (like a daughter who had sprung from your own blood), that the unfortunate may find mercy. We are in your hands, and you are in the place of God to us in our misery. Come then, vouchsafe the unhoped for boon. By what thou lovest, of thy very own, I pray thee, child, help-mate, duty, sacred name. For look as closely as you will, you shall not find the mortal who can resist the leading of a God.' and as they proceed are mingled with a rapid dactylic strain, which meets the impetuosity of the chorus in 1. 229 ff. with corresponding earnestness. This combined movement has given rise to some doubt, and, in order to keep the dactylic verse continuous, some would read in 247, ws or ws and in 252, with Triciinius, ov Bpordy. But the syncopated thesis and change of rhythm in both places, as in 1]. 7, 14, may give the effect of lingering earnestness Atnapés) combined with the eagerness of her supplication. On the other hand the slight alteration of the last two lines, approved by Hermann, appears probable on comparing ll. 235,6. The MS. reading of 253 may be scanned /

In comparing this passage with 236-50 on the one hand, and on the other with Phil. 1170-1217, Eur. Or. 1452-1503, we seem to trace the increasing use of monostrophic From the Aj., Ant., O. T., Trach. this phenomenon is absent, except in such short epodes as Ant. 876- 81,

In the scheme of metres on pp. 301, 2, it has been thought better not to divide the strophes into parts. Their structure will be sufficiently evident to the student, although a sharp division between the main portion of each, and the prelude or conclusion, can hardly be maintained.

237. atSdgpoves| This is not merely a propitiatory epithet ='as you are merciful, have mercy,' but is addressed to the religious spirit which the chorus have shown. 'As you are full of reverence for the Gods, have respect to the suppliant.' Antigone appeals from the religion of custom to the religion of the heart, and the way is thus prepared for the rebuke of Oedipus in 277,

EAN opposes this last prayer to the expressed determination of the chorus. The second resumes this with a slightly different force, contrasting her own supplication with that of her father, which they had rejected.

But this is hardly the most natural or rhythmical division. if genuine, simply adds emphasis to rar pés. 'For my own father.' is one of the favourite words of Sophocles. Essay on L. p. 96.

245. &$ Ts, i.e. 'Looking up to you with the frank reliance of a daughter.' ws THs Tos ovyyevés. Schol.

'Coming from thyself' These words apply properly only to but are to be connected by a sort of zeugma in a more general sense with *Aéyos, just as Tivos may mean all that is closely connected with him. Elmsley's conjecture deserves notice.

251. Xpéos| It has been attempted to defend the MS. reading Adyos, by interpreting it 'suit,' or 'petition.' But the conjecture of Reiske, accepted by Brunck and most editors, is probably right.

252. was altered to by Tricl. merely for the sake of the metre, and the comparison of Il. 242, 247 proves the change to have been unnecessary. See note on 237 ff.

the preceding speech of Antigone, were suspected by some ancient critics. But they are justly defended by the Scholiast, who observes that the passage was not obelized by Didymus. 'The lyrical interchange is followed as usual by a dialogue in senarli. Cp. esp. El. 251 ff. The chorus are ignorant of the divine purposes towards Oedipus, and are simply bent on defending the sacred precinct which is entrusted to their care. But they are not inhuman, and after the final appeal of Oedipus, who professes himself the saviour of Athens, they own that the matter is too hard for them, and are willing to refer it to Theseus as the supreme authority.

continue the force of ei: 'since Athens has this reputation which in my case proves vain.' But the sentence is too long to be so compact. For cp. infr. 606, El. 883, x.7.A.; and for 8,9. Schol. Kupyvatos' ovve- Kev See on O. T. 355: Essay on L. § 24. p. 41.

lifting me up from this resting~-place, then drive me away from it.' For the want of antecedent in a passage expressing strong feeling = see Essay on L. p. 72. The sacredness of the ground was a reason for protecting the suppliant who was found there. I,. 276 shows that refers not with to 226, but to 149-196. Those who removed a suppliant from the hearth, altar, or other consecrated place, were bound to succour him. Cp. O. T. 142, where the king is acceding to the prayer of the petitioners, Otherwise (2), if is taken strictly of the seat, called supr. 176, ' Who after removing me' (from the sacred ground) 'then drive me from this resting-place,' or (3), 'Who remove and drive me from this resting-place. For the plural in the more general sense, cp. Eur. Erechth. fr. 362, ]. 47.

266. 'For my actions have indeed been sufferings and not actions.' See Essay on L. 30. p. 51. The words of Lear (3. 2) have often been compared, 'tama man | More sinned against than sinning.'

270. has a strong emphasis. 'Whatever my actions may have been, my nature was surely not wicked ;' cp. Aj. 472, yeyws, i.e. That I was not really a coward, though the award ofthe arms to Ulysses proclaimed me such.

271. i.e. 'With clear knowledge." See on O. T. 316. 'Seeing that first of all I was returning a wrong, so that even had I done it knowingly, I should not have been guilty. But as it was, I went all unwittingly on my path of woe, whereas those who planned my destruction knew well what they were doing. The imperfect tense in expresses an intention not carried into effect (as in vey, etc.). Cp. Thuc. 3. 57, The words refer to the parricide: but it is doubtful whether means simply 'in self defence,' or contains an allusion to his father's act in preparing the destruction of his infant. Similarly it is doubtful whether 1. 274 applies to Creon and his sons, or again to his parents. There may seem to be a certain harshness in supposing Oedipus to speak thus of Laius, and the tone of 521 ff., 985 ff. is certainly different. Yet this is the most obvious interpretation of the present passage, and receives some confirmation from O. T. 718, 9, 1454, The peace of Oedipus does not include forgiveness of those who have wronged

278. 'Do not while you think to honour the Gods, in reality dishonour them,' i.e. by driving out the suppliant. Some editors have attempted, reading as in the early recension, or poipas, which is found in two MSS, to render, 'Do not, while ye honour the Gods, suppose them to be fates' (or 'a fate'). 'By no means,' etc. But this sharp distinction between God and Fate belongs to a much later age. Sophocles would no more have spoken irreverently of the than of the other deities. And the interpretation has no meaning that is relevant to the context. For how would the rejection of Oedipus imply that the Gods were blind fates? Was it not rather based on a misinterpretation of their will? The conjectures pavpovs (Nauck), (Martin) are not more satisfactory. The best hitherto is Schndw.'s potpa

With regard to the reading of the text, which has strong MS. authority, it may be noticed; (1) that there is no difference of meaning between potpats and if this is supposed equivalent to This poetical dative plural occurs in Plat. Legg. 923 B, (2) Next, that the omission of év, or the substitution of the instrumental dative (Essay on L. § 14. p. 20) is supported by the similar use of Ti pats aydpevos, in O. T. 909, éudpayvyjs. See note in loco. (3) This explanation of requires to be taken separately from and to have the force of an independent negative. This is very unusual, but may be defended, a. by the consideration that negatives the sentence as a whole, and a subordinate negative is therefore more easily admissible; that may be taken closely with after = Wore c. In Plat. Legg. II, 913 A, there is a parallel instance in a participial clause, ad 'Nor again let him move anything, however small, without any sort of consent from me.' And in El. 336, although the force of is continued in the latter part of the line, the second has an independent force. Cp. also Eur. Erechth. fr. 362. 1. 46, | | | The antithesis between the literal observance of the local sanctities and the higher obligations of justice and mercy is the point of this part of the play. Cp. Phil. 451. 2, | Tovs Ant. 924, for similar contrasts of expression. The use of for is in keeping with the language of the play. See Introduction, p. 270.

supra 278. The letters (in 283) have been divided by C'. B Vat. 288. L. (p from v). COA, 201. LA.

282. ois] i.e. (1) Oeots. These words properly belong to but are also joined with the prohibitive sentence that is interposed. Cp. Od. 1. 74, 5, é« | ains. ois has also been taken (2) as referring to the nearest words, Bpo- But it is better to refer it to the principal word in the previous sentence. Both interpretations are acknowledged in the Scholia.

'Cloud with disgrace.' Cp. Pind. Nem. 10. 40, xpuTrev : Aesch. Pers. 536, : also the metaphorical use of The abruptness of the expression is softened by the explanatory clause, esp. thedative i.e. 'Do not obscure the brightness of Athens by the impious deeds to which you minister.'

284. 'But as you have received your suppliant under a pledge. éxéyyvos generally means 'able to give a pledge,' and so 'trustworthy.' But for the passive use of a word generally active, see Essay on L. p. 99; and cp. 1. 487 ; 1. 1039.

288, 9. .. rus] ' Your sovereign, whoever he is.' For the combination of definite and indefinite, see Essay on L. 22. p. 36; and cp. O. T. 107, avroevras..tiwds. Ocdipus has heard the name of Theseus, supr. 69, but he speaks cautiously, as if he depended on the chorus for information. For the courteous form of expression, cp. Pind. Pyth. 4. 230, BaovAevs, | vads.

293, 4. 'They are expressed in no light terms.' The more literal meaning, 'in brief words,' does not suit with Betv. Why should a lengthy speech produce more awe than a shorter one? On the other hand, the meaning 'slight,'

294, 5. Plural for singular. Essay on L. § 20. p. 30. opposes the middle course of waiting for Theseus, to the immediate reception of Oedipus.

297. 'The citadel of the land, which was his father's.' The words designate the ancient in the immediate neighbourhood of the Acropolis towards the south. Thuc. 2.15:

297, 8. .. 6s 'The informant, who brought me hither. The is thus described, because he has seen Oedipus and will give Theseus true information. Schol.

300. conjectured independently by Porson and Elmsley. It is doubted whether the pronoun is unemphatic and subject of or emphatic (='in person') and subject of The latter suits better with the preceding speech, and with the feeling of Oedipus. As the Schol. observes, the had not heard the name of Oedipus. But for dramatic purposes it is assumed that things told upon the stage become immediately more widely known. Cp. O. T. 151, Aj. 148 ff. Triclinius read which is metrically unobjectionable, but it gives a poor meaning, and the aorist is harsh with preceding. Those who are not satisfied with Porson's emendations may prefer dor See Essay on L. § 32. p. 54, 2.

305. Supplementary predicate, with the meaning 'celeber,' 'much spoken of.' Cp. Aesch. 5. c. T. 6, : Hdt. 1. 98, 6 'Thy name in frequent repetition hath reached all men.'

306, 7. though he be slow and slumbering.' For the use of the adjective, see Essay on L. 23. p. 38.2; and cp. Aj. 47, It is here slightly proleptic, i.e. 'The form of the expression is influenced by the antithesis of rays. For the thought, cp. O. T. 65, though added by an afterthought, has the chief emphasis. The conjectures are both in different ways injurious to the sense. The expression is hyperbolical, or figurative as in Eur. Suppl. 1147. For SC, cp. Ant. 1182,

308. 'Well, may he come, and in his coming be blest unto his own city as well as to me; for what good man is not a friend unto himself?' i.e. Who does not befriend himself in doing good? For the active meaning of (Sch. cp. Aj. 1359, Ant. 90. Phil. 1385, pov: Pind, Ol. 2. 103, mpaniow: Aesch. Cho. 1051, For attra, referring to the more remote antecedent, and for the emphasis on see Essay on L. 41. p. 78. Cp. esp. El, 251, and for the sense, infra 1505, 6, | TIS Ahy 635, 1124. 5, ws | : Hom, Il. 13. 732-4, [ | infra 1518, 9, & | According to another interpretation, the words are added in excuse for re,=' Who is not dear to himself?' (Schndw., Nauck.) But (1) this requires the conjectural correction (for is then too absurd); and (2) the reflection is unsuit- able to the context and to the general feeling of the play. Where a similar proverb occurs elsewhere in Sophocles, it is either the maxim of a schemer like Ulysses, or implies blame (Aj. 1366,

310 ff. The coming of Ismene prepares the way for what follows by giving a forecast of the attempt of Creon and of the fruitless visit of Polynices. It also diverts attention from Theseus, whose arrival at Colonus from the Acropolis (a distance familiar to the spectators) would be less probable and also less impressive if he came too suddenly.

310. For the genitive, see Essay on L. § 10. p. 16. The broken lines mark (1) the disturbance of feeling caused by the surprise of Ismene's coming, and (2) the suspense of uncertainty. Cp. O. T. 1468, 1471, 1475, and notes.

312-14. Airvalas .. The epithets (see Scholia) are picturesque, and also call attention to the condition of Ismene, who having still a home at Thebes is well clothed and mounted, whereas Antigone is barefoot and sunburnt, infr. 348, 9. The particular meaning of Airvaia and is of course uncertain, except that the one implies a horse of a fine breed and the other denotes a comfortable and shady riding-hat.

fAvoorepyns| The implied use of = 'to avert,' 'keep away, may be paralleled from Aesch. Supp. 1063, Essay on L. p. 98. Hence the substitution of or which, equally with this, would be is unnecessary, The use of the word is more natural if «pati is dative of reference, than when «pari is taken separately as a locative dative, though both constructions may be thought of; i.e. 'And on her head to screen it from the sun.' Cp. 'her sun-expelling mask.' Shak. G. of V. 4, 2.

319, 20. . | 'She greets me with bright looks from her eyes.' caivw is first towag the tail (said of a dog or other quadruped), then to make signs of recognition or of pleased attention, and lastly is transferred to the impression produced on the person to whom this action is di-

220, 21. 'And in doing so convinces me that this is certainly no other than Ismene's self.' after has been thought pleonastic, but the pleonasm is expressive.

324, 5. 'O father and sister, names that I love to use. The name is often interchanged with the thing or person named. Cp. Phil. 234, Eur. Suppl. 801, 2.

325, 6. 'How hardly I have found you, and now again how hardly I can see you for sorrow;' i.e. And now that I have found you, my sorrow almost prevents me from seeing you. For which is dat. of cause, see Essay on L. § 14. p. 21. °

328-31. Editors since Musgrave, who followed the Scholiast's hint, dpa ; have transposed these lines, placing 328 between 330 and 331, on the ground that Ismene cannot be supposed to touch herself. Not much is gained by this: for Ismene is rather struck by the contrast of her father's and her sister's mode of life to her own at Thebes than by the misery she shares with them. And the construction of a reply, in this sort of dialogue, is not to be pressed too closely. Cp. amongst other passages, El. 1036, Y oi dyes. | XP. dripias where has really no construction. Perhaps all that is meant is, 'I too am linked in this unhappy circle." For which has been questioned, cp.

331. 'And you must include me, unhappy.' Cp. Eur. Hipp. 341, 'There is no reason for changing to

333. Adyous] The meaning of the dative is varied from the cause to the concomitant. 'By reason of longings?' 'Yes, and also with intelligence, which I myself would bring." The reading is probably an early conjecture.

335. i.e. eis 'And what is become of the young men your brothers in the matter of this service?' Cp infr. 342, ods A similar construction occurs in Eur. Or. 1473, yas ; cp. Il. 13. 212, otis more expressive than mov (which there is no reason to suppose the Scholiast to have read in the text). 55. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 405, ; For the implied negative in epexegesis expressing defect, i.e. see Essay on L. 26. p. 62. The other explanation of the Scholiast, is not so good.

336. 'They are, - where they are.' For similar expressions, implymg something too bad to name, see O. T. 1376, and note.

' Things are terrible with them now.' The Scholiast in saying implies this reading. Others read

241. 'The outdoor means of supporting life.' Cp. 'means of obtaining fire.' There is a slight redundancy in Cp. 343, oixoupotow, and see Essay on L. § 40. p. 75.

342. 'And in your case.' Dat. of relation: i.e. You find it so. Some editors, taking as gen., suppose the dual to be used of the two pairs of children.

(1) 'The comforts of the life at home,' or (2) ' What subsistence she herself may find;' cp. Tr. 730,

255. 'Which were given respecting me.' Essay on L. 8 9. p. 13. The context shows that the oracle here referred to was one obtained by the Thebans respecting Oedipus after they had sent him forth. The plot of the O. C. does not permit us to suppose that Creon had waited for the response, according be left vacant.' And the authors of the to O. T. 1438, 9, before hastening the punctuation in AV' and of the gloss king's exile. This oracle directed the must have so taken the

356. The order expression Kpéovri for mpos Epéovra of events is inverted in the narration. is not quite natural or harmonious here. E. on L, p. 78. And the antithesis of in what

358. tis oréAos| follows, assisted by the parallelism of A figurative inversion of the common construction, isstrongexpression, 'What errand ly in favour of the MS. reading. sped thee from home?' may be supported by supposing the 360. «.7.A.] Added in ex- brothers to have jointly resisted a party planation of is added be- amongst the citizens who desired that cause of the previous E.onL.p.49. one of them should take his father's 362. 'Seeking how thou wast main- throne. Cp. Thuc. 6. 35, (sc. tained or where. katrouoins de- 'Beforetime their contention was fines the notion of that they should relinquish to Creon 363. Cp. O. T. 283, their rights in the throne, and that the city should not suffer pollution; pro- 365. .. Dative. 'En- fessing in their argument to have regard compassing your wretched sons.' to the ancient ruin of their race, etc.'

371. Although has the first short, may be defended by comparing Eustathius mentions as a word used by Sophocles. If any chance is needed, which is partly supported by the reading is the most probable. The heaven-sent infatuation, which leads to their destruction, is assisted by their own evil mind.

374. ved fev |' And the younger spirit.' The participle implies youthful qualities (impetuosity, ambition etc.), as well as the fact of being the younger. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 713, addressed to Eteocles.

381, For the construction, see Essay on L. § 21. p. 44, and cp. O. T. TOI, It has been suggested to read for "Apyos, (with in 381), | but the words express the motive held - out to the Argive followers of Polynices, to whom he would naturally represent | the struggle as one between their city - and Thebes. Cp. infr. 1325, "Apyous eis

to heaven. According to the frequent vaunt of the Homeric heroes, Tis Il. 12. 328, 13. 487. Cp. Aesch. S.c. T. 46, 1 Should the expedition fail, the splendour of the Argive host would be the measure of the glory of the Cadmeans.

395. 'A poor business * 'There is not much good in raising up in age one who fell in youth.' On the omission of see Essay on L. 27. P- 45-

AOI. ' Laid at their doors." 'The word though perhaps chosen with a view to what follows, as expressing Oedipus' presentiment of his end, has more immediate reference to the inactivity of age. A young warrior received within their gates might be of some avail, but what profit was there in an old man lying idle beyond their confines? Cp. the Homeric and Shakespeare's ' unregarded age in corners thrown.'

402. The difficulty of interpreting this line has arisen from not observing that the dative is 'governed' of as well as of Cp. supr. 308. 'Your burial, happening in a way unfortunate for them, is a danger to them.' According to this rendering, the point of the reply is obvious enough. 'It needs no divine intimation to teach us this.'

405. tv kparfis| ' But not in any place where you will be your own master.' The subjunctive, as usual, after a relative adverb with dv. Some editors have changed xparijs to xparois. But although this is favoured by the explanation of the Scholiast, xpa- Tois and by the comparison of 1. 190, the change is unnecessary. For the adversative cp. El. 132,

'The guilt of parricide.' Cp. Ant. 793, vetxos.. : O. T. 1406. Cp. Plat. Legg.9, 871 D. (of the punishment of homicide), 6 where it is added that the intention to kill is to be punished in the same way, except in the matter of burial.

A416. For the indefinite ts in a question, cp. supra 66, Tis ; The use of tis = where only two are spoken of, is remarkable.

410, 20. It may seem unreasonable in Oedipus to expect his sons to disregard the interest and the law of Thebes. But he is absorbed in his own destiny, and is full of indignation at the thought of being taken to the borders of his country without being restored to it. This he thinks that his sons ought to have interfered to prevent. He regards the oracle as expressing the intention of Phoebus to glorify him at the expense of his countrymen if they persist in rejecting

421 ff. The correspondence of clauses is not perfect, a new train of thought being introduced with in 422. The broken thread is resumed in 425, 6. Oedipus is saying, ' Let their quarrel go on to the end, and may the end be the worst for both.' His passion interrupts him with the further thought, 'Let me only have the ending of it. and then - .' For the expressron, cp. Pind. Nem. Io. 29, 30, Tédos

424. The present here rather marks the beginning than the continuance of the action. ' Take hold of,' 1.6. 'obstinately engagein,' rather than 'cling to,' 'persevere in.' Cp.

are quite good expressions, there seems no reason to suspect this more literal use. And as elsewhere, almost = is less suitable, for the sons of Oedipus, though preparing for the contest, are not actually engaged.

425. «.7.A.] This clause adds an explanation of defining the manner of the end which Oedipus desired, and which he would bring about if the matter rested with him. 'May it be mine to determine the end - which I will determine in such a way that neither he whoa now holds the sceptre and the throne should remain,' etc (with the optative and dv) is not here exactly equal to iva with subjunctive or optative, which would mean ' (May it be mine to end it) - that so neither he that holds the sceptre might remain,' etc. A slightly different way of taking the words is, 'May it be mine, etc : - so (since then) neither would he.' ete.

426. ' Nor should he that is gone forth ever come back again.' The reading of Par. A, though only slightly supported by MS. authority, is possible. Cp. infr. 1372, and note. 'Nor should he that is gone forth ever be restored to his own city." But that in the text is simpler and more natur il. Cp infr. 601, | ws

428. 'So dishonoured by being thrust forth from my native land.' For the expression of the predicate by an adverb, see Essay on L. § 24. p. 40; and cp. Plat. Rep 3. 406 C, ..

429. 'Stayed me not, nor shielded me, but suffered me to be made a homeless outcast and proclaimed a banished man.' For the dative see Essay on L. § 13. p. 19. f.

432. " Fulfilled for me this boon, which I then desired.' ' assented to,' 'accorded,' the reading of B, is less forcible in the connection. The question is not one of promise but of performance. For the desire of Oedipus, see O. To 1410 564. 1449 866.

436. 'In respect of this desire I found no helper.' For the genitive, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 13. The genitive after g. Antiphon, 131. 27, which has been quoted as parallel is really different

438, 9. 'And I began to know that my rage had run to excess and been toosevere in chastising my former errors.' It is more probable that is genitive in regimen with than genitive of comparison after (Aesch. Cho. 519), because thus receivesan exclusive emphasis. Forpei(wr, used thus absolutely, cp. Plat. Soph. 231 A, yépas, and Heindorf's note.

441. 'I say, after a time;' resuming (437), which contains the point of the sentence. The time is not imagined as being really long, though it seemed so to Oedipus. For a similar use of cp, Eur. Cycl. 249,

4432. 'For little word;' 1. 6. For want of a little word, which they might have spoken for me. Cp. Eur. Or. 84, otros mvons. 'He is a corpse, were it not for a little breath.' And for a similar thought, Thuc. 3. 53, 6 ws

448, 9. eiAéaOnv .. (1) 'Chose the possession of a throne,.and to sway the sceptre, and to be sovereign over the land" This arrangement of the words gives a better rhythm than if (2) Opévovs is made to depend, with on (3) Another explanation makes and to be taken with and also, in a secondary construction, with xpatvew as epexegetic infinitive. Cp. O. T. 237, Kal For the accusative, cp. the use of the passive verb in Phil. 140, wap'

451. It has been thought that either re in 450 must be changed to or here to If so, the latter is preferable, for is expressive.

453. *re * ' And comparing with them in thought those ancient oracles, which I bring from my own store, the same which Phoebus once accomplished upon me.' Cp. supr. 98. 'Which come from my side;' i.e. in making the comparison, Cp. Tr. 631, The correction, although questioned by Dindorf, who supposes some deeper corruption of the text, is probable enough.

1480, 90, OF. opw, The extension of present aid is everywhere put forward as a condition of the permanent blessing. 'The task of defence. which he here entreats them to undertake, is fulfilled by them in resisting Creon.

458. *ratode Yeats] 'In addition these dread goddesses that protect your deme.' This seems the most probable. as it is the simplest, emendation of this.line. Others are | ftv harmonizes well with the emphatic has probably been inserted as a gloss L? has

This reading is preferred (1) for the antithesis; (2) because may be accounted for as a corruption of explaining

400. Oedipus reverts to his own personal objects, as in 308, 9 Te), although, as in that passage, the chief stress is laid on what is mentioned first? At the same time he leaves it to be implied that his enemies are the enemies of Athens. Cp. infra 646,

461 ff. The coming of Theseus is still delayed, and the scruples of the chorus cannot be set at rest without some formal expiation on the part of Oedipus. The presence of Ismene enablesthis tobemade without Oedipus or Antigone leaving the stage. She goes to perform this service, and the chorus continue harping on the interminable theme (adding the confessional to the sacrifice), when Theseus at last enters bringing with him a very different spirit. His coming clears the air at once.

463. ' You add, to give further weight,' as if throwing into the scale. Cp. supra 293, yap 'And since you add in what you have now said that you are yourself the saviour of this land.' is partly instrumental dative, partly governed by in

465. mpoféver] 'Give me friendly instructions.' On the uses of this word, see Essay on L. p. 97. It is here specially applicable to the position of Oedipus as a stranger, and of the chorus who are advising him in a matter where they are most of all at home.

406. 'Institute a propitiation of these deities." Lit.' A purification in relation to them.' For the genitive, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 12; and for in this sense, O. 134,

467. kal (or may be supplied from as. The reading is doubtful. xaréoreyas is unmeaning; but 'Adorn the ground with garlands,' receives some support from the description that follows. For which gives the most natural meaning and best rhythm, cp. supra 56, dv And for the thought, cp. supr. 84, 5 and note.

The minute directions belong to the ceremonial of the place possibly still in use in the time of Sophocles. yeipes here. as in Aesch. Cho. 378, are hands pure from guilt. So Horace, Od. 3. 23. 17, 'Immunis aram si tetigit manus, Non sumtuosa blandior hostia Mollivit aversos Penates Farre pio et saliente mica,' in lines which also recall the spirit of infra 498, 9, yap | 'The precept to wash the hands (Schndw.) is probably included, but with a ceremonial significance. Cp. Aj. 655, dyvioas

appiorrépous| 'Projecting on either side,' rather than 'On either side the brim.' See L. and S. s.v. m1. The latter part of the compound is unemphatic.

475. * ye The insertion of (Heath) is the most probable of the various cor-. rections (vewpov, vewpous, vewpas, vcoyrijs, veadous, ye veapas) of the first part of this line. ye refers to which it confirms and amplifies. ' Yes, with a fillet of wool from a young ewelamb.' 'lately born,' would express the feeling of ceremonial superstition with more exactness than veo- which is made up by combining the MS. readings, and may mean either 'newly-clipped' (an etymological use, for which cp. Essay on L. pp. 99. 100) or 'consisting of young wool.' But there is no motive for a twofold resolution (USU - U) in this line, and givesa simple and natural sense. Cp. Tr. 675, Supposing ve to have crept in from the previous word, the variation of reading may be easily accounted for,

477. ] Hom. Od. Cp. Crat. Com. 2. p. 151, dye | Anv: Sen. Oed. 338, 'Altum taurus attollens caput primos ad ortus positus expavit diem.' The place of offering was probably on the eastward side of the hill. See Introd. p. 273.

480. ' With what am I to fill this that I may make the _ libation?' is suggested by would properly govern xojv (cp.. 466), for which is substituted. Three vessels are to be used for the threefold libation (Ant. 431, Sorat ; two partly filled with pure water, the third, filled to the brim with water and honey.

481. The asyndeton as elsewhere in enumeration. Cp. supr. 17. Instead of a third element, which the hearer might have expected, the prohibition of wine is interposed.

482. 'The earth covered with dark leaves ;' whether referring to the dark greensward (a slight variation of or to the deep shades of Colonus. Cp. supr. 157 ff.

483. 'On both sides." For -- see E. on L. § 11. p. 18. Philochorus quoted by Schol. on 1. 100:

485. The prayer appears to Oedipus more important than the external rites, which, however, he is ready to fulfil. is neuter.

487. The passive use of adjectives in is rare, and it has been attempted to give here an active meaning, inasmuch as Oedipus proclaims himself the saviour of Athens. But the chorus have very imperfectly realised this conception, and the expression of it would have seemed to them little in accordance with the humility of a prayer. The terms of petition are general, like the description of the previous ceremony. ' That they would receive their suppliant and afford him safety." See Essay on L. p. 99.

489. 'Speaking aloud.' Cp. the Homeric and the like. According to Polemo, qucted by the Scholiast on this line, the sacred rites of the Eumenides were entrusted to the family of the "Hovxidar.

496. 'The want of strength as well as sight.' Two objections have been made to this reading - that requires a preceding and that cannot be equivalent to But the former objection appears arbitrary (cp. supra 451): and with regard to the latter, for applied to bodily strength, cp. 1]. 20. 360, Lys. 168. 26, : Phaedr. 269 D, and the Homeric use of

498, g. The value of a pure intention is similarly asserted in the two lines, preserved from the Aletes of Sophocles by Stobaeus, | Fr,

499. 'Paying these dues. The change from the MS. reading is very slight, being a correction of the simplest itacism (cp. Ant. 8 56, where L gives éxreivers for éxtives) and has never been successfully defended.

804. Xpi is equivalent to a future of 'Where I am to find' This form, which occurs also in a fragment of the Triptolemus quoted by the scholiast on this passage, Fr. 530, is variously explained as a contraction for or for or the form or being differently regarded as a primitive indeclinable noun, whence also and or as a contraction of Linwood conjectures iva oral But Ismene's perplexity is more simply expressed in the text.

«10, foll. The pause is filled by a short lyrical interchange between the several members of the chorus and Oedipus, who is thus brought to make confession while Ismene performs her offering. But his confession is a defence. The chorus, although importunate, are gentler than in the former scene. The opening line is scanned as choriambic, although it may perhaps be questioned whether the Ionic metre, which occurs above in ll. 212 ff., is not more suitable here and in 517. The other metres in the Ist strophe and antistrophe are logaoedic. with one iambic colon (518 = 532); those of the 2nd strophe and antistrophe are mostly iambic. The scheme is the following : -

The distribution of the parts amongst the members of the chorus is very uncertain. Most probably the coryphaeus speaks throughout the Ist strophe, and then the others interpose in turn,

510, Cp. the proverb, (Plat. Phil. p. 40), and Flat. Legg. 2. 657 E (of the poet's power of recalling the feelings of youth), rots THY

514. 'The hapless misery which you encountered, arising without remedy.' For the genitive ras, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 13, and cp. 317, TOU

516. Tas This conjectural reading. as well as the other which has been proposed, nov, has been suggested partly by the metrical difficulty, and party by the fact that the Scholiast appears to have taken to be governed by dvoifys. Schol. THs ons Against it may be argued (1) that the word occurs nowhere in tragedy, (2) that where it occurs in Homer it is accompanied either by a noun in the vocative, or by the interjection (3) that it is improbable that the first person (represented in the Scholion by pov) should be omitted. The word is in accordance with the spirit of other passages of the play | (268, 537), and should be retained. is substituted for to which is added as an emphatic epithet, 'My unwitting deeds of shame.' Hence was naturally inserted as a gloss. Besides the metrical objection to the MS. reading, dvoifns requires an object, and the asyndeton takes from the smoothness of the passage without increasing its force.

517. 1 would hear once for all aright what is matter of loud and still undying rumour.' 1.6. : cp. 305. K.T.A,

519. 'Be content,' i.e. It is doubtful whether this line should be altered by adding or reading with the MSS. in 1. 532, or we should read as in the text. Cp. infr. 1692 and note. For - ~ - - in a similar passage, see El. 828, 830, 841, 843.

*exav If this reading is adopted, it must be acknowledged that we have here a trace of the philosophical (already suggested by the Epic oxymoron ye which is treated at length in Plato (Legg. 860, 867 A) and Aristotle (Eth. N. 3.1), viz. whether a man acts voluntarily when he is ignorant of the circumstances. See Introd. p. 270. Oedipus must be supposed to mean that in killing Laius and in marrying Jocasta he had acted wit th 8 right good will (cp. O. T. 422, 3, | but that as he acted in ignorance, the actions were not his deliberate choice. is certainly wrong and is due to some reminiscence of 1. 694. Cp. Eur. I. T. 512, The expression is more forcible if, by a slight change, for is ; read, as in the text.

523. For the transposition of the dactyl. in the glyconic line, see Christ's Metrik, § 1 19. Pp. 94: To avoid it here, é@eAnror, (G. Wolff), have been conjectured.

arisen from a gloss Others read and alter 1, 513. The correction is unnecessary. Oedipus has already proclaimed his own unconsciousness, and there is a certain point in adding that the citizens were equally unconscious of the nature of their gift. Cp. infr. 983,

'in that relationship!' The force of the middle voice in is 'ethical' (Essay on L. § 31. 52): 'Didst thou to thy confusion,' etc. For here, cp. Aesch. Pers. 132,

It has been urged in defence of the MS. arrangement of the persons, that the responsive iw is more suitable to the chorus. But in the present instance it belongs to the chorus to utter expressions of horror, and to Oedipus to confirm them. Cp. supr. 532. Zev.

534. This line has been variously altered, but even if the true reading is lost, the general meaning is probably retained. The mistake about the persons has very naturally arisen from the suddenness with which Oedipus takes up the word. This helps to indicate the excitement of the situation.

" Everrenewed onset of unnumbered woes.' The image is that of an enemy who harasses an army by returning repeatedly to the attack with fresh forces. Cp. infr. 1045, .. gat, Ar. Eq 244, For the nominative after the interjection, cp. Tr. 1046, 7,

537. "1 have suffered woes that will not be forgotten.' is first governed by then is added pleonastically, and dAaova is resumed. Sc.

539-41. 'I received a gift, which would that I, the much-enduring one, had never so benefited the state as to receive from her the privilege of choosing, i.e. Would that I had not benefited the state so as to be honoured with the choice gift of Jocasta. In this rendering, which takes the words in a natural order, it is assumed that with the past tenses of the indicative in a relative clause, may express the wish to reverse a fact in past time. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 363-6, The analogy of the uses of the historical tenses with dv, iva, ws, to express an impossible supposition, inference, motive, or result, is all that can be urged in favour of this, except the comparison of a passage which has generally been thought corrupt, infr. 1713, iw, yas gevas It may be further suggested, that in both these instances the unusual construction is assisted by an echo (or harmonic) of in érw- and of in expnges. If this hypothesis is rejected, we must fall back on Hermann's interpretation of the words: 'Accepi, inquit Oedipus, donum, uxorem dicens, guod ego ut nunquam a civitate debuerim accipere, ei profui, i.e. quod ut mihi non unquam daret Civitas, merui, quum eam a Sphinge liberavi. is a poetical expansion of cp. muxvdémTEpos, ete.

544. Properly an exclamation of pain; here transferred to mental suffering, in accordance with the metaphor in éwaicas. The punctuation of the line is uncertain, i.e. it is uncertain whether is an epithet of or is to be supplied with dev- and is in apposition to the sentence. For cp. Hom. 1]. 14. 130, Tus

TO Te Sixas. ' My case has some defence, something to be urged on the ground of justice. Cp. Ant. 598, Eur. Suppl. 64,

540. reiterates the expostulation of the chorus. yap has a different shade of meaning in each of the three lines, 538, 542, 546: (1) ' Why, what then?' (2) 'But what of this?' yap implying 'that excuse will not stand. (3) 'Why, what is that ?'

547. The MS. reading is condemned both by sense and metre. but the correction is uncertain. adopted in the text. may be explained in two ways, (1) = manifesto occidi, 'I murdered, and was convicted of the murder:' proleptic. Essay on L. 33. 70. Cp. O. T. 1213, 6 (2) ' Being overtaken (by destiny) I did commit the murder.' The former meaning gives rather a better force to «ai, and is on the whole preferable, although the construction of the participle is more natural in the latter interpretation. Porsonconjectured (3) 'being infatuated,' but this implies a degree of self-accusation, from which Oedipus in the Oed. Col. is wholly free.

@deoa] The pleonastic expression has the solemnity of a legal indictment. Oedipus, while pleading innocence of intention, will not soften the actual crime.

was specially applicable to one who had been acquitted of the crime of homicide. Cp, Plato, Rep. 5. 451 B, Kal 6 ws 6 Legg. 9. 865 B, 6 pos wes and in these passages answer to here. E. on L. § 14. p. 20.

550. 'Brought by thy voice,' i.e. by the message sent at the request of Oedipus (1. 70). The word has sacred associations, and is used in this play, supr. 102, of Apollo; infr. 1351, of Oedipus again: not elsewhere by Sophocles. the reading of Turnebus, is nearer to the indications of our present MSS. than any other correction, and gives a better sense than or 'See where our lord Theseus, Aegeus' son, hath set forth at thy word, and is now come.'

551. The words from te to pas are introduced by an afterthought, and modify the rest of the sentence. Cp. Phil. 1411, foll., ous See oiktioas, K.7.A.] With a native generosity which Oedipus fully acknowledges (infr. 570), Theseus is ready to protect Oedipus, although not ignorant of the nature of his misfortunes (supr. 305 ff., 51 ff.). But he imagines himself to be conferring a favour, and knows not that the blind wayfarer has more to give than to receive. Once more, therefore, we have a fine contrast between the real and the apparent situation.

557. This correction of the Laurentian reading (7=7?) is more probable than the reading of B, in which is awkwardly repeated. For the aphaeresis, cp. Phil. 592, K.T.A, which, on your mentioning it, I should recoil" Or (2) 'For that would be a terrible fortune, of which the mention would make me shrink from giving relief." The latter rendering gives a more natural meaning to (cp. Hat. 3. 65,. dwéxAqe mpnéw), and is more in accordance with what follows #.7.d.). And the usual question addressed to suppliants is, 'What is your misfortune ?? rather than, 'What would you have us do?' For the sentiment, cp. Eur. Suppl. 339. 40, ws Tots | For the emphatic use of the adj., see Essay on L. p. 80.

562. "Yes, for I know, that I myself was brought up a stranger, as thou art now.' Theseus was reared by his grandfather Pittheus at Troezen.

563. x@s i.e. (sc. "1 have laboured, as any one hath laboured most :' i.e. as much as any one qué plurima), The more usual expression would be

'In my own person :' i.e. they were dangers to my own life which I met by my own exertions, referring to the adventure with Sciron, etc. For cp. the expression, Kapt Plat. Lach. 187 B.

569, 70. 'Theseus, your nobleness in brief speech hath spared me the necessity of saying much.' Either (1) Bpaxéa is the subject of or (2) the object of the subject of being The object of is absorbed in the following clause. Cp. Eur. Fr. 310, wdpes .. ..

For passive, cp. Hdt. 4. 11, ws ein, Essay on L. § 31. p. 54. in Plat. Meno, 79 C, although impersonal (sc. mpay- 6 is middle voice and not passive as here.

574. 'And our conference draws to an end. This is the reading of the best MSS. which is much commoner in this sense (cp. e.g. Eur. Suppl. 530), is given as a various reading in Par. A, and appears in the text of two other MSS. is best supported by comparing Dem. 541. 22, and Plat. Rep. 6. 484 A, Twos

577, 8. ' But the gain to be obtained from it is better than beauty.' Cp. Eur. Fr. 552, *vouv' THs | dpedos, Tas

583, 4. «.7.A.] The construction is defined (with as the sentence proceeds. For the irregular accusative, see Essay on L. § 15. p22; 'For in this favour those other offices are comprised ;' i.e. To assure him burial by the hand of Theseus was to assure him protection from the attempt of Creon.

586. (1) 'You have indeed summed up your request in one short word.' Or (2) 'This favour which you ask consists in a little thing:' 'in re levi positam gratiam.' Ellendt. For (1) cp. El. 673,

588, ;)] 'In saying this, are you speaking of what relates to your sons, or of something that relates to me?' Theseus is bewildered by the words of Oedipus. Hearing of a contest in connection with the death of Oedipus, he naturally thinks of the impending conflict at Thebes, of which he cannot but have heard something. But, as he afterwards says more explicitly, he does not

580. If this is the right reading, which, from the frequent confusion of ¢ and o, is not quite certain (cp. 603), the present is used with future meaning, as in Aesch. Prom. 513, ib. 525, Cp. Phil. 1379, The subject of (sc. cp. infr. 933) is to be gathered from the context. 'They will enforce my being taken thither; i.e. They will force the consent of Theseus and the Athenians to this. 'Universe eos intelligit, qui tradendi Oedipi potestatem habeant. Herm. Another rendering has been proposed - ' They will use compulsion against me to carry me back thither.' But such a use of with the infinitive is inadmissible.

590. et yew The reading of this line is very doubtful, but that of L is as probable as any other. There would seem to be an ellipse of some such words as or the like. ' But if they chose to fetch youin case of your being willing to go, then on your part it would not be hecoming to remain in banishment. Cp. Od. 15. 280, od tions. Hes.

; ~ "-- nw 9 ¢ nw "EdAjvev " 3 " Kat ; see Essay on L. 8 28. p. 47; and cp. Aj. 886, : Pind. 2. 56, ts? And, for with the present participle, infra 761,

Reisig's emendation ' But (consider) whether it be not unbecoming in you to be exiled from them desiring to have you back again,' although not convincing, deserves consideration.

591. This line, at first sight, rather favours the emendation @éAovras in 590. But atvrés='of my own accord,' may distinguish between mere willingness and the spontaneous wish, and the same word has not necessarily the same reference even in two consecutive lines. Cp. supr. 71, and note.

598. tl..vocets;| 'What isthis greater than human misery at which you hint?' because greater than the extreme calamities which had previously befallen him.

602. 'Why then should they have you brought, if you are still to live apart from them?' For the middle voice of cp. O. T. 434,

605. 'In that it is fated for them to be defeated,' either (1) 'in this land' or (2) 'by thisland.' For (1) cp. infr. 15.46, potp 621, 2, ovpos .. .. 644-6, : 786, In favour of (2) (which the Schol. gives) it may be urged that it makes the rejoinder of Theseus appear more natural.

606. For the omission of the article with the second word, cp. El. 991, paxos. Essay on L. § 21, p. 33.

612,13. kal 'And the same spirit does not last between friend and friend, nor between city and city" By a metaphor derived from the most ancient, and not altogether lost in modern times, the feeling of love or hatred is regarded as a breathing or exhalation. Cp. Aesch. Agam. 1206, GAN Aesch. Cho. 34, ib. 952, Aesch. Suppl. 30, mvevpate xwpas: Plut. Dion. p. 197, Hence a change of feeling is further compared to a change of wind, as in Aesch. Ag. 219, Tpowaiay. For the thought, cp. Aj. 679 ff. 7° és

or continued movement. For the perfect of Baivw, expressing a settled state or condition, cp. esp. infra 1684, BéBaxe.

615. It often happens in Greek that both sides of a complex statement are put forward when only one is relevant. Cp. Aj. 679 ff. quoted above, Trach. 134, 5, | But the poet may have chosen to indicate the possibility of future reconcilement between Athens and Thebes.

616, 17. Elmsley mentions that some MSS. give 7é accented, which may be a remaining trace of the original reading or 1. 6. quasi TE is indefensible, and the objection to the tautology is unfounded. See Essay on L. § 40. p. 75. 'And though on the part of Thebes towards you all be now serene as heart can wish.' continues the metaphor in is epexegetic of the impersonal subject of pepe. 'All looks fair and well in relation to you:' or (bringing out the image a little more), 'There is no cloud in the heavens between Thebes and you.' For the construction, cp. supra, and Hdt. 3. 49. Kopw-

617, 18. .. 'There are countless nights and days which time begets in his onward course.' For the form of sentence, cp. El. 1364-6, yap T ai capy - a passage which also illustrates the present tense, as used of something future but certain.

610, 20. évais .. 'In which they will sunder with the sword on slight pretext your now well-plighted fellowship. 'The letter corresponding to in L is rather an unfinished o ( o ) than an a.

1,. B Vat. fully thine own good faith,' or (with as supplementary predicate), (2) 'Only keeping thine own part faithful.' The position of favours (2).

630. is subjective middle. 'Declared on his own part,' or ' Declared himself ready to perform' Essay on L. 31. p. 53, d. Cp. O. T. 148, : Aj. 1376, 7, . .

632, 3. ' Whose friendly alliance, first of all, has been ever known amongst us aS a common possession ;' the family of Cadmus being of Athens and not merely of Theseus ; 'publicum hospitium dicit, ut opponatur Linw. Or (2), reading with Suidas, ' Who, first of all, has a home and place of defence always open to him in our land;' in right of a mutual bond. 'Semper apud se paratum esse Oedipo hospitium pro mutua quadam vel inter ipsos vel inter majores eorum necessitudine.' Herm. Euripides represents Polynices as having been the éévos of Theseus: Eur. Suppl. 930. For the alliance supposed to exist between Athens and Thebes, cp. supr. 606, 616, 618, infr. 758, 429.

'The hearth of warlike friendship,' the article introducing a general notion, as in Tr. 398, GAnOcias. See Essay on L. § 21. p. 34. The abstract is expressed through the concrete; i.e. is used for fevia, like for For the expression of a similar feeling, cp. Plat. Legg. 1. 642 B, THS

634, 5. river] The sentence returms from the relative to an independent construction. E. on L. p. 64. Theseus with 'noble brevity, (supr. 569), gives two or more reasons in one. Oedipus is (1) an ally, (2) a suppliant claiming Divine protection, (3) he promises to secure victory for Athens.

637. 'On the contrary.' The conjectural emendation (Musgr.) is unnecessary, and if it were accepted the opposition of clauses would not be sufficiently marked by The word occurs only once, infra 1156. ('Non opus : fortius Herm.)

.. sc. 'To make choice between these alternatives and use the one so chosen.' Cp. O. T. 640, dpaca.. dmoxpivas

647. .. 'You seem to intimate a great boon which your abode with us will confer.' = cp. El. 1372, | THS genitive of relation (Essay on L. § 9. p- 13), 'A great gift in respect of your dwelling with us.' make them good to me.' dp ina with proleptic. Cp. O. T. 863, | Some take as agreeing with (cp. 630). But Oedipus has only to remain where he is. The fulfilment of his promise does not take place till after his death. There is no meaning in a condition which is so far in the future.

. Nauck conj. But such a transition from the idiomatic imperative to this rare use of the inf, 'to provide for' (Phil. 504, 'spay, is very unlikely. For the

658, foll. 'And many threats and many vain words have ere now been uttered in anger:' (Lit. 'Many threats have uttered many vain words:') 'but when the mind has power of herself again, nothing remains of all that was so threatened. For .. cp. infr. 794, : 779, OT : Plato, Theaet. 153 D, in all which instances a process is personified and grammatically regarded as the agent. Also infr. 794, for asimilar echo of sound, See Essay on L. § 44. p. 83. The conjecture gives a misplaced emphasis. Qy. K.7.A.

660. 'In its own possession.' For the genitive as predicate, see Essay on L. § 9. p. 12. A similar emphatic use of occurs in Tr. 144, Toe-

661 ff. 'And with regard to the Thebans, though they have had the audacity to boast great things about carrying you away, they will find, I am well assured, that the way hither would be over a jong and dangerous sea.' is in a twofold construction with and is impersonal, (sc. so that is equal to

664. having the force of a preposition, adheres closely to the word which follows it, and the spondee in the sth foot is thus justified. See on 115 supr. yap

There is a pause in the action of the play. Oedipus has now received from Theseus himself the final assurance of rest and protection. The scruples of the chorus have been pacified by the words of the king as well as by Ismene's performance of the sacred rites, and the anxlety of Oedipus has been calmed. Creon is on his way from Thebes, but his approach, though apprehended by Oedipus, is not yet present to the mind of the chorus. It is in this moment of tranquil security that the chorus give their welcome to the stranger, and sing the praises of Colonus and Athens.

the nightingale keeps haunt, and sings in deep impenetrable coverts of green dells, where no sun, nor wind, but only the joyous presence of Dionysus comes. Here daily blooms the saffron and Demeter's flower, nor do the waters of Cephisus fail, nor Aphrodite shun the spot. And there is a better plant than grows in Asian or Dorian soil, that flourishes of itself in this our land, the nurse of childhood, the terror of our foes, the grey-leaved olive, which Zeus and Athena ever protect from harm. Nor has Poseidon left us without his gifts. Our mother-state is famed for horsemanship and famed by sea. Here first the son of Cronos tamed the steed, here swiftly glides the oared bark, keeping pace with the multitude of sea-nymphs.' varied with iambic and trochaic, which in 3, 5, 7, are combined in the 'antispastic' or syncopated movement gels pee ane P' VU which, out of 13 lines, holds the sth, 7th (and central), 11th, and 13th places. 2 and 12, the second and secondlast lines, also correspond wm uur OY. In 3, 4, 8, the logaoedic is shortened to and in 6, to the Pherecratean -"" -- -- In 9, the rhythm changes to a purely dactylic movement mm UYU mY UOmMVM Veo; which is followed, in 10, by an Iambic dimeter catalectic utu- - ut aid which smooths the way for the recurrence to the prevailing rhythm. Cp. supr. 229-36, infr. 1675, 6. The chief movement in the 2nd strophe is choriambic (Il. 1, 2, 6, 8, émavAa| Here generally ' dwellings,' 'homes,' with some association from the care of horses, which was an occupation of the Coloniatae. Cf. Aesch. Pers. 870,

670. An accusative added epexegetically in the same construction with (cp. dpynes, dpywdes), 'gleaming,' either from the colour of the rock, or rather from the marble structures, such as the altar of Poseidon, which made it conspicuous in the sunlight from a distance.

670, 1. The addition of the breathing which restores the metre, also, by introducing the article, rather improves the sense. Cp. El. 147, ppevas: infra 693, : 716, pos. The synaphea is not a strong objection where the metre is continuous, as here, and is at any rate more probable than that a glyconic verse should begin with a dactyl, and at the end of l. 683, be taken for a monosyllable.

673. 1 'In coverts of green glades.' with dative='down in.' Cp. Ant. 336, 7, : Ovid, Fast. 4. 427, ' Valle sub umbrosa locus est.'

674. 'Remaining constant to the empurpled (wine-coloured) ivy.' For this meaning of cp. Aj. 241, Aéxos Awrov | orépéas Eur. Hec. 123, : Pind. Nem. . 89, ; and especially Aristides, 1. 19, nov "ATH The conjecture (Dind.) is certainly not less questionable than the text. may be said, but hardly (Cp., however, Ar. Av. 239, refers to the rich colour of the ivy, as if flushed with wine.

'The inviolable leafy grove, with countless berries, sacred to the God:' referring chiefly to the laurel and olive bushes, for the epithet can hardly apply to the vine: cp. supra 17, For op. O. 1. 82. And for cp. Trach. 754,

Probably Dionysus, to whom such thickets are sacred, as Sevdpirns Pind. Fr. 130, The mention of him is suggested by the ivy, and he is presently spoken of by name as haunting the spot. Cp. the similar introduction of Poseidon in 709, foll., and of Nessus in Tr. 556-8.

680. Oeiats .. The Nymphs of Nysa, who, according to a legend, were the nurses of the infant Bacchus, Tl. 6. 132, To the conjecture @eats, which has been suggested for the metre, may be objected, (1) that the fem. of is not elsewhere found as a monosyllable (unless in 683); (2) that the Nymphs are not properly spoken of as

picturesque inversion, representing the confusion of the Bacchanalian rout, in which it is uncertain who leads and who follows. But qy. used passively, as in Pind. Ol. 1. 96,

681-93. The antistrophe passes from the wooded hollow to the open height, on which the crocus and narcissus blow : and then to the meadow that is watered by the stream.

683. The great Goddesses, Demeter and Persephone. See the Hymn to Demeter, ll. 6-18, where Persephone, after gathering crocus and other flowers, is tempted by a narcissus with a hundred heads, which Earth purposely causes to grow, so as to fix the attention of the maiden until Pluto comes. Ancient commentators observed that the chaplet worn in honour of Demeter and Persephone was not one of flowers, but of myrtle, or of ears of grain, and they proposed either to read referring to the Eumenides, whom Euphorion had described as vapkicow OF to emphasize with reference to the former time before Persephone was carried away. But see note on 685.

685. Cp. Tennyson, Oenone, 'And at their feet the crocus brake like fire.' The Schol. observes that Sophocles in the Niobe makes the Hither (1) 'Nor fail the ever-wakeful springs that feed Cephisus' stream,' referring to the abund-